Mob rule on a Bradford estate has forced a lesbian couple to flee their home and possessions.

Donna Logan, 26, and Emily Kendall, 25, said they endured a barrage of verbal abuse, physical threats and acts of vandalism since they moved into their Council home in Allerton Grange Drive, Allerton, last September.

But they said they were finally forced to quit after being confronted by a baying mob who warned them they would be killed if they did not leave.

The distraught couple, pictured, and another relative, who was staying with them, say other residents cheered as they fled. They are now staying with friends until the Council can re-house them.

Today police warned they would not tolerate homophobic attacks and appealed for information which could help prosecute the offenders.

Ward Councillor John Buffham (Con, Thornton) said he was appalled to hear about the couple's plight.

"This kind of thing is totally unacceptable. It is absolutely deplorable that this couple have had to put up with this sort of behaviour. Everyone has the right to live their life as they wish and should not be persecuted like this."

Donna, who has already suffered one nervous breakdown because of the persecution, said she was at her wits' end and had been suffering constant panic attacks.

"We cannot believe what has happened to us. We only have the clothes we stand up in. We have never had to deal with anything like this before."

Emily said other residents on the estate started the campaign of terror after realisng the couple, who also lived with Emily's sister Alice, were gay.

"We could have been friends or sisters but as soon as they realised we were gay they just went for us," she said.

They said they endured: threats from a 30-strong mob armed with baseball bats; warnings that their home would be firebombed; smashed windows; graffiti scrawled on their property; and continual verbal abuse

The couple's friend Jane Rogers said she was disgusted at what they had suffered.

"They have never hurt anyone and just live their lives peacefully. This is absolutely outrageous and unbelievable. Donna has been ill through all this and Emily can't work as she has to look after her. It is just awful. They are frightened to go out now."

The couple said they had lived in Baildon before without any problems.

The Allerton house is now boarded up.

Jez Lester, Bradford Community Housing Trust's group director of investment and regeneration, said: "We have offered these two women temporary accommodation, which they have turned down. We are now looking at permanent accommodation for them. The availability of property depends on the area of choice."

A West Yorkshire police spokesman confirmed the couple had reported a series of incidents since they moved in.

"We have spoken to them on a number of occasions to offer our help, advice and assistance. Arrests were made in relation to the problems but because of a lack of evidence we were unable to take the case to court. We would urge anyone with information to contact the police.

"West Yorkshire police will not tolerate homophobic incidents and we would encourage anyone who feels they have been a victim of such as crime to contact police so that it can be thoroughly investigated."

Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 6060606.